Greek workers strike over austerity measures

Hundreds of thousands of workers in Greece have started a 48-hour general strike to protest against a new round of wage and pension cuts that parliament is expected to approve by a narrow margin.

The strike, called by Greece's two biggest labour unions representing half of the 4 million-strong workforce, brought public transport to a virtual standstill and shut schools, banks and local government offices.

A crowd of about 16,000 protesters - fewer than is usual during Greece's frequent strikes - gathered outside parliament in Athens, waving flags, beating drums and chanting, "This strike is only the beginning".

It was the third major walkout in two months against the package of austerity measures and reforms making it easier to hire and fire workers, which many Greeks feel penalise the poor and spare a wealthy elite.

The government has implored Greeks to endure the cuts to avoid national bankruptcy and promised this will be the last round of pain.

Greeks, who have seen many such promises broken before, have responded with a mix of resignation and anger.

"They should ask me how I feel when I have to go to church to beg for food. I wouldn't hurt a fly but I would happily behead one of them."

Parliamentary approval for the package - which includes cutting pensions by as much as a quarter and scrapping holiday bonuses - is needed to ensure Greece's European Union and International Monetary Fund lenders release more than $40 billion of aid, much of it aimed at shoring up banks.

Exasperated by years of broken promises to reform, Greece's lenders have warned Athens it cannot afford to fail again.

"Our Greek friends have no options or choice, they have to do it," Jean-Claude Juncker, the head of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers, said.